Sneak Peek: New Video Clip From Nine

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Drama, Musicals, Romance, Casting, Filmmaking, Trailers, Upcoming Releases, Videos

Rob Marshall’s new film Nine is epic.

For one, the cast is impeccable: Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, and Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson. That’s 7 Oscar wins and 11 Oscar nominations between them!

Secondly, this video—spliced with rehearsal footage and new clips of the film—just makes me more excited for musical (that could be my Chicago and Moulin Rouge fangirl in me). Having been partially based on Federico Fellini’s autobiographical 8 1/2, I can’t see why it won’t please audiences.

I suppose we shall find out on its opening day, December 25th; in the meantime, enjoy the video!

Read More | LA Times

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Find the Weight on Penelope Cruz

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Musicals, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Let me start by saying that I agree with actress Nia Vardalos. Too much emphasis is placed on women and weight in Hollywood. But every once in a while, I come across a story like this and I can’t help but laugh.

During the production of Nine, several of the cast members were asked to gain weight for their roles in the musical. According to singer Fergie, it was suggested by director Rob Marshall that she and Penelope Cruz each add on 17 pounds. “We were eating our brains out. We ordered everything fried and full of fat and salty,” she told Allure magazine.

While it’s easy to see from the trailer that the Black Eye Peas performer did reach at least part of her goal (I highly doubt that was 17 pounds), I’ve been struggling to see - from any angle - what the Oscar-winner put on. Can anyone help me?

Read More | Us Magazine

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First Look: Daniel Day-Lewis and All His Women in Nine Trailer

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Musicals, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

What would Daniel Day-Lewis do to get past his Academy Award-winning role as Daniel Plainview? He’d move on with a bevy of women.

In Nine, the There Will Be Blood star trades in the oil industry for a life behind the camera. Daniel plays Guido Contini, a Venice director who struggles to complete his film while handling all the women in his life. It’s a part that was once given to Javier Bardem.

Click to continue reading First Look: Daniel Day-Lewis and All His Women in Nine Trailer

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: March 17, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Home Entertainment

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• Bolt: DVD, Blu-ray
• Elegy: DVD
• The Princess Bride: Blu-ray
• Punisher: War Zone: DVD, Blu-ray
• Rollerball: Blu-ray
• The Rules of Attraction: Blu-ray
• Twilight: DVD  **releases on 3/21**

Click here to see the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

After a year away from live Oscars coverage, I’m thrilled to be back for the 2009 Academy Awards.

Even though Dark Knight‘s snub will probably keep a number of viewers away (how many can honestly say they’ve seen The Reader?), I’m eagerly anticipating several moments from this evening’s broadcast.

Will Heath Ledger’s family bring the house to tears? Is Mickey Rourke going to make the producers wince? Will the cameras pan to Brangelina after Jennifer Aniston’s presentation? Are Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron really (really?) going to do a song and dance number?

To find out if this will be the year of the Slumdog or the underdog, stay tuned here for the live results!

Click to continue reading The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Read More | Oscars

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Javier Bardem Won’t Present Oscar to Penelope Cruz

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Celebrity Gossip

Thanks to a scheduling conflict, one of Sunday’s most highly-anticipated moments will not happen as predicted.

Should Penelope Cruz win the award for Best Supporting Actress (that’s the way things seem to be trending right now), the statue will not handed to her by Javier Bardem. Although that job usually goes to the previous year’s Best Supporting Actor winner, Cruz’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona costar - and real-life boyfriend - won’t actually be in attendance.

According to E! Online, the No Country for Old Men actor will not be able to break away from a shoot in Barcelona. He is currently there filming Biutiful with director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

But it turns out Bardem’s presence would have been a moot point anyway. The producers are supposedly breaking with tradition and mixing up their lineup of presenters.

Read More | E! Online

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Winslet, Rourke Awarded with BAFTAs

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

While it’s looking pretty clear that Slumdog Millionaire will take home the Oscar later this month, the race for Best Actor and Best Actress remains a bit muddy.

At yesterday’s Orange British Academy Film Awards, Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) both took home the top honors for acting. Although this is similar to how they performed at the Golden Globes, neither actor was a winner at the recent SAG Awards. (Sean Penn and Meryl Streep took home the statues that evening.)

Click to continue reading Winslet, Rourke Awarded with BAFTAs

Read More | British Academy of Film and Television Arts

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: January 27, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, MGM, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Religious, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• Any Given Sunday: Blu-ray
• College: DVD
• Dead & Buried: Blu-ray
• Drumline: Blu-ray
• Fireproof: DVD
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips: DVD
• Groundhog Day: Blu-ray
• In Bruges: Blu-ray
• Lakeview Terrace: DVD, Blu-ray
• The Lucky Ones: DVD
• Open Season 2: DVD, Blu-ray
• The Pink Panther: Blu-ray

Click to continue reading This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: January 27, 2009

Read More | Amazon


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2009 Academy Award Nominations

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

Despite no major wins for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Jan. 11’s Golden Globes, the film lead all entries at this morning’s Academy Award nominations. The Brad Pitt feature will go into next month’s ceremony with 13 opportunities to walk away with at least one statue. (Slumdog Millionaire will have 10 chances.)

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from today’s press conference:

• Kate Winslet (The Reader) - a double-winner just a few weeks ago - only received one nomination this morning. Meryl Streep will only get one chance as well for her role in Doubt.
• Although it wasn’t represented at the Globes, Frozen River was recognized several times today.
• Heath Ledger‘s nomination (on the anniversary of his death!) was expected; The Dark Knight‘s omission was a disappointment.
• Four acting nods for Doubt didn’t equate to an honor for the film.
• Several pleasant announcements in the Best Actor/Supporting Actor categories: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder). Shannon got the only major nom for his picture.

Click to continue reading 2009 Academy Award Nominations

Read More | Oscars

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2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists

Although last January’s Screen Actors Guild Awards were spared from the writers’ dispute, SAG is facing its own strike this year. Regardless, the awards season must go on. Next month’s event - scheduled to air on Sunday, January 25th on both TNT and TBS - will come just three days after the Oscar nominations are announced.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:

• Doubt led this year’s crop with three nominations. Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button came in second with two nods each.
• Richard Jenkin was honored for The Visitor while Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) was left off.
• Heath Ledger added another nom to his belt. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for his turn in Tropic Thunder.
• Kate Winslet was named for both The Reader and Revolutionary Road. Leonardo DiCaprio was left empty-handed.
• The Dark Knight, Revolutionary Road and The Reader were all left out of the Best Ensemble categories.

Click to continue reading 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)

Read More | Screen Actors Guild Awards

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